Abstract

We analyze the dynamic operation of an optical modulator based on double graphene-layer (GL) structure utilizing the variation of the GL absorption due to the electrically controlled Pauli blocking effect. The developed device model yields the dependences of the modulation depth on the control voltage and the modulation frequency. The excitation of plasma oscillations in double-GL structure can result in the resonant increase of the modulation depth, when the modulation frequency approaches the plasma frequency, which corresponds to the terahertz frequency for the typical parameter values.

Received 21 August 2012Accepted 24 October 2012Published online 26 November 2012

Acknowledgments:

This work was supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, CREST, The Japan Society for promotion of Science, Japan, and TERANO-NSF grant. The work at RPI was supported by the US National Science Foundation and EAGER program (monitored by Dr. Usha Varshne). The work at BMSTU was supported by RFBR research project No. 12-08-31104.